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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

About a month ago, I was a guest blogger over at 2 little hooligans, and I thought I'd share my post with you here just in case you missed it. I am working on another similar project that was requested by one of her readers, and I will share it with you as soon as I have it finished.

Microwave Bowl Potholder

Do you cringe every time you have to remove a hot bowl from the microwave, afraid that you will burn your fingers, or worse yet, drop the bowl and spill the hot contents on you or your kiddos? Well fear no more because today I am going to show you how to make a bowl potholder so you don't even have to touch that hot bowl!

You want to make sure you use 100% cotton materials because synthetic fibers could melt or catch fire in the microwave. Be sure your batting doesn't contain scrim or glue.

To figure out how big to cut your squares, measure the outside of the bowl from one edge to the other.

Then cut one square from each fabric, and two squares of batting to this measurement. My bowl measured 10", so my squares were 10".

Place one fabric square right side up on top of a batting square, and quilt them together by sewing an X with a straight stitch diagonally to opposite corners. Repeat for the other fabric square. (Yes, I switched fabric on you!)

Now your are going to make darts in the centers of each side to give the potholder a bowl shape.

Fold the quilted square in half to find the center for the dart. I found the best way to do this was to line it up on my quilting mat grid and mark the stitch line with a fabric marker. I came in 1" and down 2 1/4" for the dart. Pin and repeat on all four sides. Repeat for other quilted square.

Sew along marked lines, back tacking at the ends of the darts. Trim seams.

The two halves should resemble square bowls at this point.

Pin the bowls right sides together, matching corners and dart seams. Using 1/4" seam, sew together, leaving about 3" open for turning. I always put two pins at the opening to remind me where I am supposed to stop.

Trim corners. Turn right side out, push out corners, and press.

Topstitch around the edge, and you are done!

This is what the outside looks like.

This is a pretty forgiving pattern, and if you have an odd shaped bowl you are trying to fit, the darts can be adjusted to the length or depth you need. Just test the fit of the bowl before the darts are sewed, and make adjustments as needed.

These work great for making hot cereals or reheating foods in the microwave.

They can also be used as an insulating pad for cold foods like ice cream, so your lap and hands don't freeze! They should only be used in the microwave, though, and are not for use in a regular, toaster, or convection oven.

48 comments:

Sue
said...

This is great!! I love soup, but the hot bowl always makes it difficult. Same with reheating vegetables. This potholder is terrific! I'm going to make one for me........and it's a great gift idea, too. Thanks so much for sharing. It doesn't look too difficult for something so useful!

I just wanted to stop by and say thank you so much for sharing this tutorial! I am so addicted to making them and my husband really enjoys a hot bowl of soup without burning his hands! You are awesome!!

Just found your tutorial the other day and am kicking myself with "Why Didn't I Think Of That"? I love it and made one today. I blogged about it and linked back to you. If you'd like to see it here's the link.

Thank Thank You, I have been looking for this pattern and when I click into your site I was so excited to find this pattern!!! I have tried to make these and now I know how so I'll be busy today makeing them for friends and family and they are a great hostess gift. Thanks again. ML from Mn.

I bought some of the microwave all-cotton batting at Hobby Lobby,but today I bought an all-cotton sheet blanket by Linen'N Things at Goodwill for $2.60. I think it will be enough to cut linings for 60 holders. This is my new project for May.

LOVE! Just made a set for my grandson, who loves to carry his oatmeal bowl to the table....trying to be a "big" boy! This will make is so much easier for him to maneuver and not have to wait for 5 minutes for the bowl to cool down. Excellent tutorial! Thank you so much.

thank you for sharing this! my daughter and I saw some at a craft show yesterday but I just couldn't bring myself to shell out $8 for one when I knew I could make them...your tutorial makes things so much easier! :) thanks!

Thank you so much. I just made 27 of the nine inch size, and have nine of the twelve inch cut out. Once the cozy is complete, I stitch across the original x stitching to keep the fabrics together. I was given a cozy, and when it was washed, it was wrinkled and misshapen. I hope the extra stitching solves that problem. This is fun. (I'm making them for my BSF ladies.)

This is so simple and brilliant. I wish I'd thought of it first! Well done,easy to understand instructions and I will be making several of these in different sizes for myself and my mother-in-law. She just loves things like this. Thank you.

Hi, Karen -- I am making some of your microwaveable pot holders for Christmas gifts and have a couple questions. The 3 inch opening for turning -- do you handsew it closed or sew it when you sew the edge seam? Mine are very thick in that area and I am not sure machine sewing it will look good. I love your blogs.

Kgrammy,if the open seam area is too bulky, you could definitely hand sew it closed before you topstitch the edge. Personally, I would take the time to do this for gifts since I am a perfectionist. You can try it both ways and see which one you prefer.

Thanks so much for the cute idea. I'll be making a bunch of these. I'm always grabbing a towel to take my bowls out of the microwave and half the time the towel gets into what ever I cooked. :) These will be perfect.

OMGOSH! Brilliant!I saw it on Connecting Threads "Gifty Galore" (8/15/2014) and they gave the link back to you! I stopped everything I was doing...Called a quilty friend..went over and we each made 4 without blinking an eye. She had a 10" layer cake that works perfectly for soup bowls. I have made more and given to friends for their birthdays. I went to 99cent store bought great bowls (red and turq & clear @.99) to complete the gift and they received the best Ooooooohhhh's and aaaahhhhh's. This are going to be my housewarming, Christmas, birthday and just because gifts for quite awhile and I thank you soooooo much for sharing...Victoria 8.19.2014

What a great tutorial. I saw one of these and whoever made it, did not do as good a job as you did. I then received one as a retreat gift and it was very nicely done. Plan to make these for granddaughters for Christmas. Thanks so much for sharing your expertise.

This is a great pattern to dress up a plain bowl for any special occasion, so I've made one in Christmas, Valentines and Easter fabrics and will find other fabrics for other occasions as I need them. Thanks so very much!

11.4.15: Conniecrafter, I introduced this to my quilting class of 30 last sept. 2014. They all found it to be the most useful item in the kitchen and we made them for Christmas/Holiday gifts. So this year we are at it again each of us are making lots more because we have so many requests from the ones that did not receive them and more from the ones that did! The best gifts ever. enjoy. Careful....once you start making them... it becomes addictive! LOL (no kidding) Karen @SYZYGY... Thanx for the gift of this pattern!

Thanks so much for this great idea. My Church Circle made these for our Church Bazaar last November and almost all of them were sold so friends and neighbors prior to the actual event. We're gonna try to make another 2- or 3- dozen for this year and hide them until November! I think we sold them or $5 sac which is probably too cheap put we get the materials on sale, and our visitors seem to resist spending much at the Bazaar - go figure!